LibriVox recording of The Creature from Cleveland Depths, by Fritz Leiber. Read by Gregg Margarite.

“The Creature from Cleveland Depths” also known as “The Lone Wolf” tells the story of a writer and his wife who refuse to move below-ground after the cold-war gets hot. The underground society discovers a decline in their ability to creatively innovate, and must consult with surface dwellers to develop products that satiate the needs of a people living like moles. But the latest product to result from this alliance, “The Tickler” has frightening implications that only our heroes seem to notice. – This story appeared in the December, 1962 issue of “Galaxy” magazine. (Summary by Gregg Margarite)

For more free audio books or to become a volunteer reader, visit LibriVox.org.

M4B format available


This audio is part of the collection: The LibriVox Free Audiobook Collection
It also belongs to collections: Audio Books & Poetry; Community Audio

Artist/Composer: Fritz Leiber
Date: 2009-12-15
Source: Librivox recording of a public-domain text
Keywords: librivox; audiobook; science fiction; scifi; cold war; underground

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Individual Files

Write a review
Downloaded 3,349 times Reviews
Average Rating:

Reviewer: mikezane - - October 11, 2010
Subject: Neat story
This is almost a precursor to iRobot, IMHO.

People are always forgetting things; chores, medicine, when to go to bed. So the Tickler is invented to help people remember. It is so easy to use, just hook it up to your brain and do what it tells you to do. Let's just hope it doesn't become sentient, eh?

Well read story, really creepy, neat ending. Enjoy!

Reviewer: notmyname - - February 12, 2010
Subject: Decent story, good reading
This science fiction story is quite funny. It struck me as slow and predictable compared to most of the contemporary sci-fi I've read, and a little dated (the use of the word "midget" for example), but still very enjoyable. (And if your Tivo and iPhone apps run your life, it might give you pause.)

I think I've listened to some of Gregg Margarite's other recordings. He always gives a solid reading with good sound quality, and this is no exception. I think his voice is quite appropriate to the main character too.

Reviewer: Pyrodin123321 - - February 12, 2010
Subject: CREEPY!
I marvel at the predictive insights of some scifi stories, this book is conceptually really scary and predictive of what might happen with time. I like the technological and social concepts in this book as well as the dystopic(or realistic!) vision of the future. I wonder if something like "the tickler" will be the cellphone's progeny......good litle book, I can't believe it's from 1962....